Are you reading the Bible but feel like you aren’t digging as deeply as you would like? Are you wondering how to study the Bible on another level without purchasing a ton of commentaries and Bible dictionaries?

Bible reading isn’t the only spiritual discipline God has commanded us to practice, but, in my opinion, it is one of the main avenues for Christians to know and experience the power of Jesus in their lives.

But reading the Bible can be intimidating with it’s long names, foreign places, and deep theological truths. In an attempt to help you read and apply the Bible to your daily life, I’m writing a series of blog posts to explain how to read the Bible.

[Read: How To Study The Bible | 4 Tips For New Christians]

[Read:Which Bible Plan is Best for Me?]

I believe that there are different levels of studying the Bible.

For new Jesus-followers who are beginning a new habit of reading the Bible, it is imperative for them to get into the Bible – even if that means reading only one verse per day.

But for those who are growing in their relationship with Jesus will notice that their affections for Jesus and God’s Word will also grow.

Spiritual Food

The words of God feed our souls much like food nourishes our bodies. As Satan tempted Jesus in the desert Jesus told him, “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4)

Our spiritual health is tied to our consumption and digestion of God’s Words.

Growing in our faith causes us to move from only reading a few verses here and there to savoring and obeying the Scripture.

John Piper talks about the concept of not only seeing the Scriptures, but savoring them.

“He wants our experience of the word to be such that we go beyond testing to tasting. Beyond knowing to loving. Beyond doctrine to delighting. Beyond seeing to savoring.” (Reading The Bible Supernaturally. p. 126)

There is more to Bible study than simply seeing the words – God uses the Scripture to transform lives.

Surface level Bible reading will create a surface level Christian. 

[bctt tweet=”Surface level Bible reading will create a surface level Christian.  ” username=”chasesnyder12″]

So, if you desire to dig deeper into the Bible, how do you study the Bible for all that it is worth?

Besides enrolling in a Christian University and earning a degree in Bible, here are five tips to help you dive deeper into the Bible.

How To Study The Bible | 5 Tips For Growing Christians

Read Through Chapters of the Bible

Context is key to understanding the Bible and diving deeper into your study of the Scripture. Taking one verse, without understanding the context, is dangerous to your understanding. The best way to understand the context of a verse is to study one book of the Bible at a time. It is time to move on from reading one verse here and there – you need to begin to piece the Bible together in a broader context of God’s Story.

The Bible wasn’t written with chapters and verses – it was written as historical books, poetry, and letters. With that said, I believe a great starting point is to at least read one chapter of the Bible per day. This will help you understand the context, setting, themes, and meaning of the verses you are reading.

Meditate on Biblical Passages

Many, in a desperate attempt to read more of the Bible, rush through Biblical passages. The goal isn’t how many minutes you spend in the Bible. The goal is to get more of the Bible in you. I’ve found that getting the Bible in me takes a slower and more thoughtful approach – meditation. 

People have various definitions of what mediation is – yoga, humming, chanting phrases, and so on. But true biblical meditation means to allow God’s Word to steep in your mind so that it begins to transform you heart. Meditating can be as simple as having spiritual conversations, posting verses around your house, or setting your phone’s lock screen to a Bible verse.

[Read: What Does It Mean To Meditate On God’s Word?]

[bctt tweet=”The goal isn’t how many minutes you spend in the Bible. The goal is to get more of the Bible in you.” username=”chasesnyder12″]

Engage In Deeper Spiritual Conversations

As I wrote in the first post of this series, “How To Study The Bible | 4 Tips For New Christians,” the Bible wasn’t intended to be read in isolation. Deepening your understanding of the Bible cannot happen without deepening the spiritual conversations you have within your small group. Your group is the perfect place to ask difficult questions, seek answers through Bible study and prayer, then discuss what the Bible teaches about that subject.

Memorize Passages of the Bible

Sure, you have the Bible App on your phone, but how quickly can you reference Scripture when you are trying to make a decision? The best way to carry the Bible around is to memorize what it says. This is why the psalmist said, “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” (Psalm 119:11) Meditating on God’s Word should lead to memorization of God’s Word. Some start with shorter verses at first, then memorize longer passages of Scripture. I would suggest that you begin to memorize passages that are directly encouraging you in your current season of life. Need encouragement, hope, or faith? Hide those verses in your heart so that you can walk in wisdom.

[bctt tweet=”Meditating on God’s Word should lead to memorization of God’s Word.” username=”chasesnyder12″]

Create Your Own Commentary

A Bible commentary is a reference book that provides insight and understanding on each verse in that book of the Bible. Some commentaries are scholarly while others are more devotional in nature. They are great tools to help you understand the background of passages.

Most likely, you aren’t a biblical scholar – most of us aren’t – but I think you should begin to create your own Bible commentary with a book of the Bible. How? Begin journalling through each Scripture. Your DIY Bible Commentary doesn’t need to be deep, nor will it ever be published.

This is a discipline I began several years ago. I write down the passage reference and simply write what is going on in that passage. I ask questions like, “Why is this passage in the Bible?” or “What does this passage show my about God’s heart, character, or attributes?” This way of journalling through books of the Bible helps me to retain the information more easily and forces me to slow down and study the Bible more deeply.

Now What? 

I wanted to assist you in developing a deeper daily Bible study so I created some Bible study and prayer journals. These journals allow you the space and flexibility to follow your own Bible reading plan by answering three simple questions to help you apply that passage to your life. Answering these three questions will help you to slow down, meditate on a passage, and journal through the Bible.